As Dwyane Wade’s official Hall of Fame induction took place last night, Miami Heat’s Pat Riley took a moment to reflect on the significant draft choice that landed Wade in the team’s roster back in 2003.
With Wade’s enshrinement in the Hall of Fame drawing attention to his remarkable career, Pat Riley’s remarks shed light on the intricate decisions that shape a franchise’s history. Riley expressed the team’s gratitude for having secured Wade with the No. 5 pick, acknowledging (h/t Ira Winderman of South Florida Sun-Sentinel), “We were very fortunate to get him.”
Riley’s insights into the drafting process included a glimpse into the “what if” scenarios that often come with such decisions. He shared, “And it would have been a dilemma if Toronto would have taken him fourth. We would have taken Chris [Bosh] fifth.”
Additionally, Riley dispelled previous notions, clarifying, “Everybody said I was going to take [Chris] Kaman, but that’s not true. That was just something we put out there in the media.”
